Galena 5k Stair Challenge

The Galena 5K Stair Challenge is now hosted by The Galena Area EMS District, The Galena Police Department and The Galena Fire Department

This event honors the heroes of 9/11 and our local first responders past and present.

Non competitive run/walk/climb-1Lap
Competitive 7 Lap professionally timed with various divisions by age and gender.

Registration for this event is online only!

1-Lap Fun Run/Walk (dress as your favorite hero!)

• Start time 9:00 a.m.
• Fee: $30 (covers event T-shirt, water, refreshments)
• Race Day in person registration closes at 7:00 am
• Mass start; not timed

5K 7-Lap Stair Challenge Race and Active Duty First Responders

• Start time 9:15 a.m.
• Fee: $35; $30 for active-duty first responders (covers event T-shirt, water, refreshments)
• Race Day in person registration closes at 7:00 am
• Maximum of 200 athletes accepted
• Chip timing

Waves will be formed (first five registered, first wave; next five registered, second wave, etc.). Waves will start every minute. Participants will be notified of their wave start time via email prior to the race date.

Course closes at 12:00 noon

Team Challenge

The top three individual fundraisers will receive special prizes!

Pledge Challenge

All participants are encouraged to raise at least $50 in donations to support Galena-based first responders.

Share your  unique URL to family and friends and invite them to  donate to your registration or team.

The top three individual fundraisers will receive special prizes!

Submit pledge sheet(s) and money at Packet Pickup to be eligible for fundraiser prizes

Event T-shirt Sizes (performance fabric)

Youth: small, medium, large

Adult: small, medium, large, extra-large, 1X, 2X

Age Groups (Male and Female)

14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+

Race Registration will be online only beginning May 5, 2025

Maximum of 200 timed participants (no limit to fun run/walk participants)

Registrations will CLOSE when race filled or at midnight on September 12, whichever comes first

Registrations after August 22, 2025 will NOT be guaranteed a T-shirt

Event Staging Areas:

Green Street Plaza near City Hall and Post Office/Custom House

Packet pickup:

Friday at the DeSoto House Hotel from 4 to 6 p.m. OR

Saturday morning Green Street Plaza and the Post Office/Custom House from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.

-          8:15 a.m. Saturday: Opening Ceremony

-          Finishers Refreshment area

-          Award Ceremony at 11:45  a.m.

Starting Line at Bench Street staging area

Volunteers will queue waves here in numerical order after escorting them from Green Street Plaza

Lap Notification/Finish Line on Bench Street

Bib numbers will trigger a visual record of each participant’s lap number.

Lap 7 finishers recovery area with water